Chances at USABO????

Archive Other Major Scholarships and Competitions
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Hey, guys! This is probably the wrong place to put this… but I’m a sophomore at a competitive public high school in CA. I’m interested in the STEM field (mostly just biology) and I wanted to prove that i terest by excelling in some sort of bio competition. I’ve taken honors bio (best science class available to freshmen, it was fine). Mostly, I just enjoy reading my dad’s old bio textbooks and watching videos about neuroscience.

If I start studying Campbell’s (7th edition) over the summer, do you think I have a chance at qualifying for USABO in my junior year?

I’m a competitive, straight A student… Self-studying is something I’m used to as well. On top of that, biology actually interests me so it’d be easy to study for it. ALSO, I really don’t have any summer plans other than volunteering in Mexico and studying for the SAT/ACT.

That said, I am aware that the USABO is highly competitive. I just want to know if I have any remote shot at it… before I decide what to do over the summer. I don’t want to waste my time over an unrealistic goal…

Thank you!

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BUMP!!! I’ll answer any if your chances/questions if someone helps me with mine… Also, do I need something better than the 7th edition? It’s the only thing my library has and I don’t have enough money to blow $160 on a textbook.

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BUMP. Is it okay if I use the SECOND edition or should I check out the SEVENTH from the library? My dad has the second edition from college.

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bumping~

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Yes, reading Campbells should get you to semifinals. 7th edition is fine…i don’t know about 2nd.
Also, be sure to review previous practice tests.

Also, read the Plant and Animal Anatomy (which is in total like 15 chapters), and Microbiology (Respiration, Photosynthesis, like the first 14) and the Animal Behavior Chapter really well. If you have those chapters down REALLY well, read the Ecology chapters (the last few). Lastly, read the Biosystematics chapters if you have everything else down.

If you want to get into National Finals (which I have not yet), I guess read Campbells again and read books like Alberts Molecular Biology and Ravens Biology of plants.

Hope this helps!